George Robertson

George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, GCMG, PC (born 12 April 1946) was the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana for that position. Born in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Scotland, he was six times elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons, was Chairman of the Labour Party in Scotland, and was appointed to the Privy Council. He has received numerous honours.

He was educated at the University of Dundee, graduating in 1968 with a Master's degree (M.A.) in Economics. He is married with three children.

Career

1968–1978 Official of the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union for the Scottish whisky industry.
1978–1999 Member of the United Kingdom House of Commons, member for Hamilton or Hamilton South, elected six times.
1979 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Social Services.
1979–? Opposition Spokesman on Scottish Affairs.
?–? Opposition Spokesman on Defence.
1982–1993 Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs.
1983–? Chief Opposition Spokesman on Europe.
1993–1997 Principal Opposition Spokesman on Scotland.
May 1997 Appointed to the Privy Council
1997–October 1999 Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom
August 1999 selected as 10th Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council, taking office in October 1999.

August 24, 1999 received a life peerage, taking the title Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
2003 Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
1991 Grand Cross of the German Order of Merit
2000 Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
September 8, 2003 Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (Knight Great Cross in the Order of Orange Nassau).
1993 joint Parliamentarian of the Year for his role in the Maastricht Treaty ratification
Honorary Regimental Colonel of the London Scottish (Volunteers)
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dundee
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bradford
Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University (Royal Military College of Science)
Honorary Doctorate from the Baku State University, Azerbaijan
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
Elder Brother of Trinity House.
United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, received November 12, 2003

NATO Secretary General The Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, NATO, updated January 22, 2003,

Preceded by:
Michael Portillo

Secretary of State for Defence
1997–1999

Followed by:
Geoff Hoon


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